Karen Doherty

, professor of (CSD) in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), has been named A&S’ associate dean for faculty affairs. In this cabinet-level role, Doherty will work closely with department chairs and academic units to develop strategic faculty hiring and retention plans; assist in onboarding new faculty; develop support networks for faculty; and liaise with the Office of Faculty Affairs. She will also support the efforts of the senior associate dean, other members of the cabinet and faculty in the areas of promotion and tenure; managing regular review and leave processes; and assessing college governance and policy documentation, committees, and processes, including serving as a representative of the college at a variety of meetings of councils and committees across campus.

A&S Dean  says that Doherty is the right person for this role. In addition to her being a faculty member at Syracuse for almost 30 years, she has served as the department chair of CSD and been a successful scholar and teacher, having received external funding for her research and the University’s Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award.

“I’m so pleased to welcome Professor Doherty to this new role at A&S,” says Mortazavi. “In addition to her experience with faculty mentoring and support as a department chair, she has also served on the College Promotion and Tenure Committee—experience that will serve us well as we seek to help our faculty develop their strengths in research and teaching to meet the demands of the academy in the 21st century.”

“I am honored to join Dean Mortazavi’s cabinet and work with the outstanding faculty in the college to promote academic excellence, all of whom play a vital role in the mission of Syracuse University,” says Doherty. “I look forward to collaborating with the A&S department chairs and all faculty to foster a supportive environment where everyone can succeed as a scholar and teacher.”

While carrying out the duties of this part-time cabinet position, Doherty will continue to conduct research and teach courses for the communication sciences and disorders department.

Doherty joined the CSD department in 1996. She has taught courses on hearing aids, hearing science and clinical audiology, and has been an integral member of the neuroscience program and Aging Studies Institute. The focus of Doherty’s research is twofold: studying the effects of age-related hearing loss on people’s ability to communicate and developing methods to improve older adults’ use of hearing aids. Doherty’s research has been funded by NIH/NIA, NIH/NIDCD, National Organization for Hearing Research and multiple foundations.

She was the chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders from 2014 to 2021, president of the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology in 2021 and currently is a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. In May 2024, Doherty was named the University of Connecticut’s Department of Speech Language and Hearing Science’s Distinguished Alumnus.

Doherty holds a Ph.D. in audiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, M.A. in audiology from the University of Connecticut and B.S. in communicative disorders from the University of Rhode Island.

Her four-year appointment as associate dean began September 1, 2024.

Laura Machia

, professor of (PSY) in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), has been named A&S’ associate dean for academic initiatives and curriculum. In this new cabinet-level role, Machia will work closely with the senior associate dean for curriculum affairs, as well as with department chairs, undergraduate directors and the A&S | Maxwell curriculum committee to improve the strategic management and analysis of academic programs and operations and to further refine the vision and strategies for undergraduate programs in accordance with the academic plans recently released by both the University and A&S. Machia’s is the latest in a line of strategic leadership appointments that also includes Professors and — all of whom will help guide and operationalize A&S’s ambitious new academic strategic plan.

Machia’s other key responsibilities will include designing new academic programs and evaluating current ones, ensuring that course size and instructional resources are optimally managed, developing and integrating study abroad and study away strategies across the curriculum, and overseeing both the course catalog and Middle States assessments. A&S Dean Behzad Mortazavi says that Machia is well suited to her new position given her experience directing undergraduate and Ph.D. programs for the psychology department, which boasts A&S’s largest number of undergraduate majors.

“The College of Arts and Sciences comprises one-third of the University’s undergraduate student body, meaning that our academic excellence and operational efficiency play an outsized role in the lives of our students and the overall campus,” says Mortazavi. “I’m confident that Professor Machia—in partnership with the college’s academic and administrative leadership—will help A&S realize its ambitious ASP goals through a curriculum that is rigorous, relevant, inventive and distinctive.”

“Students at SU receive a world-class liberal arts education from dedicated and passionate faculty across A&S and Maxwell. I am excited to work with our departments and programs to further enhance their strengths and partner in their strategic innovation over the coming years as we align with the new ASP,” says Machia.

Along with the duties described above, Machia will continue to conduct research and teach courses for the psychology department during the term of her appointment, noting “It is a joy to be able to contribute to the college’s academic goals in this new role, in the research lab and in the classroom.”

About Laura Machia

Machia joined Syracuse University in 2012. She is a social psychologist who specializes in research on close relationships, focusing primarily on the question of why some relationships flourish and others fail. An accomplished teacher and scholar, she has taught courses on social psychology, close relationships and social dilemmas; authored or coauthored more than 50 empirical papers; and co-edited a book titled “Interdependence, Interaction and Relationships” (2020) that explores how theories from social psychology, economics, sociology and learning science combine to explain whether relationships flourish or fail.

Her previous leadership roles have included serving as director of the college’s social psychology Ph.D. program from 2018-23; director of undergraduate studies and associate chair of the psychology department from 2019-23; and chair of the A&S Academic Committee from 2019-24. She was also a member of the University’s Women in Leadership initiative from 2023-24 and has held various appointments within her professional organizations, such as serving as a senior member of the Relationship Research Interest Group within the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, and as an associate editor at Personal Relationships.

Machia holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in social psychology from Purdue University, and a B.A. in psychology and sociology from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Her four-year appointment as associate dean begins July 1.

Napolitano’s portfolio will include identifying and addressing content gaps, writing for web and print, and overall project management. She will also work closely with Director of Communications Daeya Malboeuf to develop a content strategy that supports the College’s Academic Strategic Plan and complements the Division of Marketing and Communications (DMC)’s Universitywide strategic goals.

Napolitano, who holds a master’s degree in communications from the Newhouse School, comes to the position with a wealth of cross-sector communications experience. She most recently served in DMC as project manager for schools and colleges. As the primary contact for 11 University units, she worked closely with campus partners to ensure that their mission-critical projects were completed within brand guidelines and according to the highest production standards.

“I’m excited to have Diana join our team,” says Malboeuf. “With her wide-ranging marketing, advancement and project management background, she’ll play a critical role in helping A&S achieve its ambitious goals. And her writing experience will be a tremendous asset as we press forward in developing our content strategy.”

As a content manager in the University’s communications office, Napolitano supported major initiatives for the Division of Advancement and External Affairs, such as Orange Central, Coming Back Together, Make Your Mark and Boost the ’Cuse. Part of a team effort, her copy for the web, email, social media posts, e-newsletters, brochures, appeal letters and news releases helped achieve significant increases in fundraising and other measurable engagement across initiatives.

Napolitano also spent several years in the public affairs/public policy domain. In the University’s Office of Government and Community Relations until 2016, she advocated on behalf of the University’s varied interests before local, state and federal elected officials.

Her nonprofit experience extends to tourism promotion. From 2004-06, she handled research and public and media relations for the Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau, including arranging media tours for travel writers. Before that, she held positions in two Syracuse-area advertising agencies.

“I hold deep respect for the life-changing power of the humanities and liberal arts,” says Napolitano, who earned a bachelor’s degree in linguistics at the University of Rochester. “Now I look forward to helping current and prospective students, alumni and the campus community discover—or rediscover—the intellectual treasures here at A&S.”

The Office of Communications at A&S provides leadership and direction for advancing the College’s liberal arts mission. The office partners with DMC to raise the University’s profile, while supporting the Syracuse vision, mission and strategic plan.

Amy Sloane-Garris

“Syracuse University has more than 200 excellent graduate-level programs,” says Sloane-Garris. “Some are world renowned, and others are gems waiting to be discovered. My charge is to collaborate with school and college leadership to strategically enhance and refine our graduate recruiting, as well as improve SU’s overall position in the marketplace.”

“I’m pleased to have Amy join my leadership team,” says Chris Sedore, senior vice president for Enrollment Management. “Her data-driven approach, broad knowledge of SU’s programs at the graduate and undergraduate level, and marketing background make her well suited to focus on the development and implementation of integrated professional graduate program marketing and recruiting plans. In addition to working across the schools and colleges, Amy will partner with the Office of Marketing and Communications to further the institutional-level effort to present a unified brand in the domestic and international marketplaces.”

Sloane-Garris has an extensive background in higher education administration, including strategic planning and enrollment management (marketing, recruitment, data analysis and admissions) student services. She joined Syracuse University in 2003, and her most recent role was�� director of strategic initiatives in the Office of Admissions. Her prior positions at Syracuse included executive director of enrollment management for the iSchool, director of enrollment management of SU Abroad and executive director of marketing and recruitment for Enrollment Management.

Before joining Syracuse University, Sloane-Garris had a 19-year career in the telecommunications industry in marketing, strategic and business analysis and project management roles. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from State University of New York at Potsdam and an M.B.A. from Columbia College.

The Posse Scholars will attend SU through the Posse Foundation’s prestigious leadership scholarship program.�� The University selected the students from a highly competitive pool of applicants based on their academic achievements and demonstrated leadership qualities and initiatives. In addition to attending general Spring Reception events, the scholars dined with��their faculty mentors, Vice Chancellor and Provost Eric Spina and college deans; observed a class; met with academic support services; and received a backstage tour of the Carrier Dome.�� In addition, current SU students pitched in to help Posse students understand the vast opportunities offered by SU, including research, internships, co-curricular activities and study abroad.��

“Our participation in the Posse partnership underscores the University’s commitment to access for accomplished students,” says SU Vice President for Enrollment Management Donald Saleh. “These tremendously gifted and socially committed students will enrich the learning environment for all students, and we fully expect them to rise as campus and community leaders.”��

“Posse is extremely proud to be partnering with Syracuse University,” says Posse president and founder Deborah Bial. ��“In signing on to recruit scholars from three Posse chapters, Chancellor Nancy Cantor and her team are demonstrating extraordinary commitment to college access and the success of outstanding young people across the country. ��We look forward to a thriving partnership that will create life-changing educational experiences for scholars.”

The Posse Foundation is one of the most comprehensive and renowned college access and youth leadership development programs in the nation. As the United States becomes an increasingly multicultural society, the foundation and its university partners work to ensure that the leaders reflect the country’s rich demographic mix. The partnership is rooted in the belief that a small, diverse group of talented students—a posse—carefully selected and trained, can serve as a catalyst for increased individual and community development. Posse scholars head campus organizations, encourage dialogue and programs that foster an inclusive campus environment, and are academically successful.

Typically, British students use the year between high school and college to travel, work or volunteer. SU’s will provide the additional option to earn academic credit and sample the U.S. higher education system. It’s a prospect that recently has become quite attractive.����

“The educational landscape in the UK has changed in the last five years,” says Nancy Rothschild, associate dean of admissions at Syracuse University. “Available spots at British universities have declined, while the cost of tuition and fees has increased significantly. As a result, more students are considering educational opportunities outside of the country.”��

Students who enroll in the fall semester program will attend classes at SU London’s Faraday House and take required courses in writing and contemporary issues. They’ll also choose an elective. Credit earned through the program will be transferable to most U.S. universities, and students can also avail themselves of counseling regarding application and admissions to U.S. universities.��

“We’re expanding the notion of what an SU Abroad center can do,” says SU London director Meredith Hyde. “It’s perfect for UK students wanting to ‘try on’ a U.S. university experience, as they can sample SU coursework alongside their American counterparts while still living at home. And it’s a huge benefit for our American students, who will gain a British perspective on their coursework and culture.”��

The Syracuse Gap Year Semester in London begins this fall.��

For more information on the Syracuse Gap Year Semester, visit: .

Charlotte Tefft, Director of Admissions

Formerly an associate director, Tefft now oversees the Campus and Field Events Department and serves as the coordinator for the Midwest Region Recruiting Team, as well as a tactical review team leader, and oversees the University 100 Program, a network of current SU students who act as ambassadors in providing outreach to prospective students.��Tefft has more than 40 years of admissions experience at SU.

David West, Director of Admissions

Formerly an associate director, West now oversees the Domestic Market Research Department and Domestic Territory Management.��West is also the coordinator for the Western Regional Recruiting Team, as well as tactical review team leader, and oversees the Alumni Representative Program, an vast network of alums who assist in outreach efforts to prospective students. West has more than 20 years of experience at SU.��

David Viggiano, Director of Admissions

Formerly an associate director, Viggiano has oversight for the Marketing and Communications Department that includes admissions notification and publications. A graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Viggiano is currently pursuing an M.B.A. at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management.��Viggiano has more than 10 years of admissions experience at SU.��

Michele Pipas, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

Formerly an assistant director, Pipas is responsible for the overall strategic development and implementation of transfer recruitment efforts.��She provides program oversight and will create opportunities to increase the enrollment of transfer students to the University.��Pipas is also coordinator for the Southern Regional Recruiting Team, as well as a tactical review team leader. Pipas has more than 20 years of experience in admissions.

Marie Nocella, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

Formerly an assistant director, Nocella is now the coordinator for both the Northeast Regional Recruiting Team, as well as a tactical review team leader.��Nocella is��also a communications specialist within��Admissions’ Department of Marketing and Communications.�� Nocella has been instrumental in developing SU’s market presence in Puerto Rico and will continue in that role.��With more than��eight years of admissions experience at�� SU, Nocella is fluent in Spanish and holds a master’s degree from SU.

Lisa Raney, Assistant Director of Admissions

Formerly an admissions counselor, Raney is now a communications specialist within the Department of Marketing and Communications. She is also a member of the Western Regional Recruiting Team, as well as a member of a tactical review team.��Raney is a 2004 graduate of Bethany College and was employed there for two years as an admissions counselor prior to her arrival at SU in 2008.

Nancy Vaught, Office Coordinator III

Formerly an office coordinator II, Vaught, in addition to coordinating activities within the Visitor Center, now interfaces with high-profile applicants and��provides administrative support for the Southeast Regional Office.��She also coordinates student tour guides and information sessions for prospective students and their families. Vaught has been with the Admissions Office for more than��seven years.

“I am honored to have been selected to lead the enrollment efforts at UCLA,” says Copeland-Morgan. “However, I will miss being a part of this incredibly engaged and inspiring community of scholars, students, administrators and staff.��SU will always be special to me.”��

Known across campus for her dedication to students and strong working relationship with deans, faculty and staff, Copeland-Morgan’s leadership at SU has been transformational. Her focus on increasing access and support to students of all income levels can be seen in nationally recognized efforts that include the “I Otto Know This” financial literacy program; the “Syracuse Responds” campaign that helped support students/families during the 2008 financial crisis; and a carefully crafted structuring of all of financial aid policies to support SU’s admissions and retention goals.��

“Youlonda has been integral to our success in building on SU’s legacy as a place of access and opportunity,” says SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. “She has brought to us not only profound insight into national financial aid issues, but profound wisdom in helping us recruit and retain increasingly strong students.��We will miss her so much, but we take solace knowing that we will continue to find common cause with her in our shared commitment to American higher education’s critical public mission.”��

“While we are happy for Youlonda and David being able to rejoin their California families, we will surely miss them and their tremendous contributions to Syracuse,” says SU Vice Chancellor and Provost��Eric F. Spina.��“Youlonda made a very significant difference at SU during this critical time of great economic stress in the nation, and the financial aid policies, programs and processes that she put into place will serve as a lasting legacy that will create access and opportunity at SU for many coming generations.”��

Copeland-Morgan will remain with the University through mid-January of 2012. Prior to her departure, a transition plan will be created to guide the search for new leadership.

Don Saleh, SU vice president for enrollment management, says the increase is in large part due to a growing national recognition of the University’s quality. “The media and our higher education peers have increasingly taken notice of our innovative curricula and our role as an anchor institution in the community. Programs like the Bandier Program for Music and the Entertainment Industries and partnerships like Syracuse Say Yes to Education set us far apart from most of our peers. They generate excitement and energy, and people want to be a part of that,” says Saleh.

SU’s commitment to accessibility is also part of the equation. This year, the awarded more than $178 million in institutional grants, including enhanced aid for lower- and middle-income families. Accessibility remains a top priority, and Saleh says the University plans to intensify this commitment in the coming years.��

Recruiting strategy continues to evolve as well, with a new focus on “geographies of opportunity.”

“We are engaging in regions in the United States and elsewhere where we have a concentration of alumni and partners. We are working together with these supporters to educate our students and the community, and to get the word out about the exciting work that’s happening both there and campus,” says Saleh.����The and the College of Law’s recent event in Atlanta are two such examples. ����

The current increase in applications reflects a decade-long trend at the University. Applications for fall 2001��numbered about��12,900; by 2005,��applications had grown to nearly 14,300. Today, that number has just about doubled at about 25,200.

“Cracking the Student Aid Code: Parent and Student Perspectives on Paying for College” is a report based on extensive focus-group and survey research with parents and students of low- and moderate-income backgrounds, and explores their attitudes and experiences with the student financial aid process and paying for college. It also highlights the barriers that students and parents face and the changes they believe are necessary to improve the financial aid process and increase college enrollment.

In her dual capacities as the University’s associate vice president for enrollment management and the College Board’s immediate past chairman of the Board of Trustees, Copeland-Morgan joins legislators and staff, students, parents, advocacy organizations and other leaders to discuss the report findings and policy implications. She’ll also attend an in-depth Senate policy discussion with members of the HELP Committee (Health, Education, Labor and Pension) involving a select group of key Senate and House education staff and policy leaders later in the day. The HELP Committee plans to focus on policy recommendations—including increased college access and retention for low-income students—that will help the United States recapture world leader status in adult degree attainment.

Copeland-Morgan has also been tapped to appear as one of eight judges on MTV’s upcoming “Get Schooled College Affordability Challenge.” The Get Schooled Challenge encouraged prospective and current college students to create “an innovative digital tool that helps more low- and middle-income students connect with money for school.’’ Underwritten by MTV and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the winning individual or team will receive $10,000, as well as a $100,000 budget to bring the idea to fruition. The three student finalists in the challenge will be announced on Jan. 19 as part of the events on Capitol Hill.

“I am honored to be participating in this important effort to simplify and improve the financial aid process for students across the nation,” says Copeland-Morgan. “The MTV and College Board partnership is a powerful example of the kind of creativity and thinking needed to improve the college going and graduation rates in this country.”

Copeland-Morgan was chosen to participate in both initiatives because of her longstanding commitment to improving access to higher education, and the subsequent retention of talented students. She recently oversaw the launch of a multi-faceted program that included SU’s buyout of high-cost private loans, as well as ongoing financial literacy seminars and debt management counseling. Recognizing that early notification of financial aid is a key to access, she also developed a pre-Thanksgiving award letter that alerts students to how much financial aid they will receive. These enhancements have significantly improved the recruitment and retention efforts at SU.

“The Cracking the Student Aid Code study and the College Affordability Challenge bring the voices of students front and center in the call for a more student-centered, predictable and simpler federal financial aid system,” says Gaston Caperton, College Board president. “We are grateful to Youlonda Copeland-Morgan for her participation in this effort and commitment to removing one of the greatest barriers to college success.”

The air date/time of the MTV Get Schooled College Affordability Challenge will be announced in the near future.

Applications are already being accepted for the Spring 2011 semester in Istanbul program.��The SU Istanbul program will be based at Bahçeşehir University, a private institution known for its progressive climate and innovative programs. Bahçeşehir is housed in renovated warehouses that sit directly on the European shore of the Bosporus (the 20-mile strait that links the Black and Marmara seas) in Besiktas, and students attend classes taught in English alongside Turkish and international peers.

Students begin with an extensive three-week, pre-semester seminar that includes survival Turkish for beginners and a focus on the many “layers”—historical, cultural, artistic, political—of the city. They’ll also enroll in a required interdisciplinary seminar on “Contemporary Issues in Turkey,” and then select up to three additional courses from the wide array of Bahçeşehir offerings. Areas of particular strength at the university include international relations/political science (democratization, the European Union, the Middle East and security studies), communications (visual communications, design, film), management (finance, entrepreneurship) and a wide range of interdisciplinary, complementary electives (Orientalism; nationalism; music, food and sport; global energy crisis; and others).

“The curriculum is designed for those craving a non-traditional study abroad experience,” says Sue Shane, program director for SU Abroad. “It responds to increasing interest in this dynamic region and provides perspectives on Europe, Asia and the Middle East.”

The new program will also offer one-of-a-kind field study and internships. And there are numerous course offerings for almost every discipline, which will allow students to fulfill requirements for many minors or majors.

At the helm of the new center in Istanbul is director Erika Wilkens-Sozen, a resident of Istanbul who most recently served as an assistant professor at Okan University in Istanbul.��Wilkens-Sozen earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. in political science at SU’s Maxwell School of�� Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Students are encouraged immediately. The program is to open undergraduate students across all disciplines enrolled at SU and other U.S. colleges and universities. A fall semester-only graduate program for international relations will open in fall 2011.

For more information on the new Turkey program, visit .

Syracuse University Abroad (SU Abroad) consistently ranks among the highest quality international education programs in the United States.�� More than 2,000 students from both Syracuse University and colleges across the country study abroad with SU every year. SU Abroad programs foster scholarship in action through a combination of world travel, academic excellence, internships, and community collaboration. The University currently operates eight centers: Beijing, Florence, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London, Madrid, Santiago, and Strasbourg. Through the World Partners program, SU students may also study in over 20 additional countries including Australia, Chile, Ecuador, Israel, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, Turkey, and a variety of locations in Africa. Visit to learn more.

Named in honor of beloved SU mascot Otto the Orange, the new program includes complementary components, including Life Skills online modules, the Money Awareness Program (M.A.P.), the Federal TEACH Grant, in-person presentations and financial aid e-news updates.

Life Skills is an interactive Web-based tool that provides tips, quizzes, information and customizable scenarios relative to budgeting, credit reports, credit scores and debt management. Students have online access to important financial information throughout their academic careers to reinforce time and fiscal management skills beyond their education.

The Money Awareness Program (M.A.P.) is a two-part grant and educational program developed to enable students to make smart decisions about money, while helping reduce their educational loan burden. M.A.P. enhances the SU experience by replacing some students’ high-interest loans with University grant funding—equaling on average $5,000-$7,000 annually.�� The program is geared toward sophomores, juniors or seniors��who have borrowed alternative loan funding in addition to the maximum federal student loans to pay for college and who are making satisfactory academic progress toward their degrees. Each participating student is required to take part in a financial literacy session once a semester. The goal of the financial literacy component is to help students understand credit and basic financial management skills.

The Federal TEACH Grant is offered to select students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income families. Grants of up to $4,000 per year are available to students who agree to teach for at least four years within eight years of finishing their teacher preparation program and to teach high-need subjects in designated schools that serve low-income students.

And “I Otto Know This!” is a new e-newsletter feature that strives to keep students current with financial information to help them better understand how to manage their money. Topics include credit, credit scores and reports, budgets, identity theft and saving.

Financial literacy efforts are not uncommon on U.S. college campuses. A recent Student Loan Analytics survey of 260 financial aid administrators indicates that 43 percent of institutions offer literacy counseling. What differentiates the SU program is that it addresses literacy in multiple ways. While nearly 80 percent of surveyed administrators report efforts limited to in-person workshops, “I Otto Know This!” combines key financial literacy components with active solicitation of student participation for counseling and additional grants. The program is intended to serve all SU students, including undergraduate, graduate, law and University College (some colleges only provide counseling to certain populations).

“Funding a college education needn’t be a source of confusion and anxiety,” says Youlonda Copeland-Morgan, SU associate vice president of enrollment management. “We’re aiming here to elevate the perception of a financial aid office as a reactive and process-oriented place to something far more valuable. We’re creating a more proactive role for our students and ourselves that will provide lifelong dividends in confidence and peace of mind.”

For more information on the “I Otto Know This!” program, visit ��or call 315-443-5909.

This strategy reflects a necessary evolution within the field of international education. When the program began, American study abroad experiences were focused on gaining exposure to another culture. But in this age of greatly increased mobility, technology and intercultural exchange, a new model is required that aggressively works to facilitate even deeper participation and engagement with that culture.

In order to realize this goal, the SU Europe team will focus on developing partnerships with host-city universities and best-in-class American universities whose programs and locations complement SU offerings. Such partnerships will result in varying arrangements, from partial residencies within host campuses to agreements that expand class offerings by host institutions. The overall effect will be a greatly increased range of choice, coupled with a more integrated and transformative experience in which students learn and grow by adapting to and succeeding in an unfamiliar environment.

As part of the new initiative, Peter Leuner has been named director of SU Europe, effective immediately. Leuner has nearly 40 years of experience in international study as both a teacher and administrator, with the last nine as director of the SU London Program (SULP). In this new capacity, Leuner will lead the establishment and development of SU Europe as a platform for revising and expanding offerings. This will include the intensification of student engagement with host communities and academic pursuits, and the systemic evaluation of personnel and resources in regard to the establishment of additional locations within Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Leuner was the founding executive director for the Foundation for International Education. Prior to that, he was the associate vice president for academic affairs at Richmond, The American University at London.

Replacing Leuner at SULP will be Meredith Hyde, who has been promoted to director. Formerly the center’s associate director, Hyde has held positions of increasing responsibility over her seven years with the University. As director, she will continue to work closely with faculty from both the home campus and at the center to ensure the academic quality of the program. She will also be responsible for the overall administration of the program, which includes maintaining and enforcing University policies and regulations; providing for the general welfare of students; and providing leadership and mentoring for SULP staff and faculty.

“SU Abroad is known as a leader in the field of international education—a distinction that has much to do with the experience and passion of our staff,” says SU Abroad Executive Director Jon Booth. “Peter and Meredith bring deep experience and a collaborative spirit to both positions that will propel us into the future with strength and purpose.”

For more information on SU Abroad, visit .

In this capacity, González will oversee the establishment of an SU admissions office in Los Angeles. This new office will enhance the University’s strong presence on the West Coast, and joins SU’s West Coast offices of Alumni Relations, Institutional Advancement and the LA Semester program in the same location.

González’s primary responsibilities will include the development and implementation of strategic recruitment and admissions plans; the coordination and implementation of all recruitment-related activities; enhancement of the University’s presence and visibility among various constituent groups in the area; and service as the University’s principal liaison in the Los Angeles metropolitan area for all matters pertaining to admissions and financial aid.

“A permanent West Coast admissions office will enable us to better serve prospective students and parents, counselors and other community based organizations and programs,” says Susan Donovan, dean of admissions at SU.

González has held admissions positions at Grinell, Oberlin and Harvey Mudd colleges, and was most recently the associate director of admissions at Cornell University’s College of Engineering. She is originally from Los Angeles.